About the Center

The Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine at UC Irvine School of Medicine, rated one of the top 50 U.S. medical schools by U.S. News & World Report, is an academic center focused on scientific research and education in complementary and alternative medicine. The center offers alternative treatments such as acupuncture, naturopathy, Chinese herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, a therapeutic lifestyle program and education at our clinic.

The center was established in 2001 with a generous gift of $5.7 million from Henry and Susan Samueli to take a leadership role in exploring the frontiers of complementary and integrative medicine.

Growing interest in complementary and alternative approaches for maintaining wellness, preventing disease and treating specific illnesses created a need for such a center to conduct rigorous scientific investigations of the physiological effects of these treatments.

Education in this field is also a high priority of the center. The medical community is becoming more interested in complementary or integrative approaches that embrace nonconventional medical interventions as part of medical treatment when they are supported by solid scientific research.

The Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine is putting some of these approaches into practice. We also are working to educate both the medical and the lay communities about the benefits and risks associated with new approaches to the practice of medicine.

Our Approach

Every patient who seeks care at the Samueli Center receives an individual treatment plan designed to restore health and quality of life. Our patient-care strategy has several facets:

We work with patients to create a customized, long-term health plan that takes into account lifestyle, family medical history, personal medical history and more.

We help patients incorporate effective strategies into their lives through medical treatment, meditation, acupuncture, nutrition, exercise, mind-body techniques and massage.

We ensure that patients have the tools and resources needed to incorporate these elements into their daily lives and lead a healthier, more mindful lifestyle.

Our Mission

To promote
integrative medicine by: 1) conducting rigorous fundamental and clinical
research on complementary healing practices, 2) educating medical students,
health professionals and the public about these practices, and 3) creating a
model of clinical care that emphasizes healing of the whole person.

Our Vision

The center's vision is to be the preeminent national and international academic center for research, education and clinical practice in integrative medicine.